JPH0313584B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine that performs copying according to the movement of a document table or an optical system.

Conventionally, on the control panel of an electrophotographic copying machine, for example, after the power is turned on, the fixing device reaches a predetermined temperature necessary for fixing the toner image transferred to the copy paper with heat, and other devices such as the developing device Each component unit is also in a copy-ready state, and a copy-ready indicator is provided which lights up to inform the operator that the control section is also in a copy-ready state. However, with this type of display,
Since the display remains lit even after normal copying operation begins, the operator cannot know when to start copying the next new document, and in order to ensure that the copy paper of the previous copy is After the paper is ejected, the copy switch is turned on. Therefore, in the above method, the next copy is made after the copy paper is ejected, and there is a problem in that there is a lot of time loss.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances,
The purpose of this is to enable the operator to clearly know when copying is possible, and to know when to replace the original without having to worry about whether or not the copy paper has been ejected. The present invention aims to provide a copying machine that can shorten the time required for copying.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 1 shows the external appearance of an electronic copying machine. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the electronic copying machine, and on the top surface of this main body 1 is provided a document table 3 that holds a document 2 and moves back and forth from side to side. At the same time, an operating section 4 is provided on the upper surface of the front part. The operation section 4 includes a power switch 5, a copy button 6, a copy number setting key 7, a copy number display 8, and indicators such as a "copy ready" indicator light 9, a "paper jam" indicator light 10, and a "no copy paper" indicator.
An indicator light 11, an "out of toner" indicator light 12, and a "periodic inspection" indicator light 13 are provided. The "copy allowed" indicator light 9 lights up when copying is possible, for example, to indicate that copying is possible.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a drum-shaped photoreceptor 14 is provided approximately at the center of the main body 1, and between the photoreceptor 14 and the document table 3 is a light source whose back is surrounded by a reflector 15. 16, mirror 1
7, a lens 18, and a mirror 19, an optical device 20 is provided for projecting and exposing the image of the original 2 onto the photoreceptor 14. Further, around the photoconductor 14, there is a charging device 21 that charges the photoconductor 14 before exposure.
A developing device 22 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 14 by the optical device 20, and a transfer device 23 that transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 14 onto copy paper (hereinafter referred to as paper) P. , a peeling device 24 that peels paper P from the photoreceptor 14, a charge removal device 25 that removes the charge on the photoreceptor 14 after transfer, and a cleaning device 26 that removes residual toner on the photoreceptor 14 are arranged. . Further, between the charging device 21 and the exposure position of the photoconductor 14 by the optical device 20, the photoconductor 1 charged by the charging device 21 is provided.
A charge erasing lamp 27 for erasing charges on unnecessary portions of the battery 4 is disposed.

Further, a paper feeding device 100, that is, a cassette 28 is detachably attached to the inner bottom of the main body 1, and the sheets P stacked in the cassette 28 are taken out one by one by a take-out device 29. A transfer section 30 between the photoreceptor 14 and the transfer device 23
The paper is fed into a paper conveyance path 32 that reaches a paper discharge port 31 through the paper. The paper conveyance path 32
A fixing device 33 that heats and fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P is provided at the terminal end of the paper P. In addition,
34 is a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to the developing device 22; 35 is a filter device that captures residual toner removed by the cleaning device 26; and 36 is a tray that receives the paper P discharged from the paper discharge port 31. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette 28 includes a frame 38 having overlapping prevention claws 37, 37 at both corners in the paper removal direction, and a support plate that supports the paper P stored in this frame 38 in the removal direction. 39, and a spring 40 that always urges the support plate 39 upward. Furthermore, support legs 41 and 42 are provided protruding from the lower surface of the cassette 28, and guide protrusions 43 and 43 are provided on the lower surface of the tip.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide protrusion 4
Notch grooves 44 are formed in the inclined surfaces of 3 and 43, respectively, and when the cassette 28 is inserted, these notch grooves 44 and 44 engage with the shafts 46 installed on the frames 45 and 45 of the ejecting device 29. It is designed so that the positioning can be done by aligning the parts. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, cams 47, 47 are attached to the front of both sides of the cassette 28.
The take-out rollers 48 of the take-out device 29 do not come into contact with the paper P or the cassette 28 when the paper 8 is inserted or removed. That is, the rotating shaft 49 that supports the take-out rollers 48 is attached to the free end side of the roller arms 51, 51, which are rotatable about the driving shaft 50 installed on the frames 45, 45, and are vertically movable. It has a flexible configuration. Further, a cam 47 provided at the free end of the roller arms 51, 51 and the cassette 28,
At positions corresponding to 47, support plates 52, 52 are provided that protrude obliquely downward. However, the 6th
As shown in Figures a, b, and c, when the cassette 28 is inserted, the cams 4 provided at the front of both sides of the cassette 28
The tips of the support plates 52, 52 provided at the free ends of the roller arms 51, 51 come into contact with the inclined surfaces of the roller arms 51, 47, and when the cassette 28 is further inserted, the support plates 5
2 and 52 are pushed up by the inclined surfaces of the cams 47 and 47, and the roller arms 51 and 51 rotate counterclockwise about the driving shaft 50 as a fulcrum. Next, the cassette 28 is set in place and the notched groove 4 is inserted into the shaft 46.
When the cams 4 and 44 are engaged, the support plates 52 and 52
7, 47, and the roller arms 51, 51 rotate clockwise due to their own weight, and the take-out rollers 48... only pick up the uppermost paper P in the cassette 28.
will come into contact with. Furthermore, when the cassette 28 is removed, the take-out rollers 48 are deviated upward and do not come into contact with the cassette 28, as in the case of the above-mentioned insertion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a roller arm 51,
A driving shaft 50 serving as a fulcrum of the drive shaft 51 is connected via a 1/3 rotation clutch 56 to a gear 55 driven by a motor 54 as a drive source, and is driven at a predetermined timing. Furthermore, the driving shaft 5
0 and a rotating shaft 49 to which a take-out roller 48... is attached.
means sprocket 57, 58, and chain 5
They are interlocked via a power transmission mechanism 60 consisting of 9.

The 1/3 rotation clutch 56 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, a gear 55, a hub 61, and an arbor 62 are fitted to the driving shaft 50, and the arbor 62 is fixed to the driving shaft 50 via a pin 63. Further, a spring 64 is fitted on the outside of the hub 61 and the arbor 62, and a sleeve 65 is fitted on the outside. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, three locking portions 65a are formed at equal intervals on the circumferential surface of the sleeve 65, and a crank lever is provided on the circumferential surface that is freely rotatable about a support shaft 66. 67
The tip claw portion 67a is in sliding contact. The other end of the crank lever 67 is connected to a plunger 68a of a solenoid 68.

Therefore, the gear 55 is always rotating while the motor 54 is rotating, and when the solenoid 68 is energized, the crank lever 67 is pulled and rotated for a predetermined period of time, so that the tip claw 67a is engaged with the locking part of the sleeve 65. 65
deviate from a. Therefore, the spring 64 is tightened by the frictional force of the hub 61, and the arbor 62 and the driving shaft 50 integrated therewith begin to rotate. sleeve 6
5 is provided with three locking portions 65a at equal intervals, so that when the plunger 68a of the solenoid 68 is pulled once, the shaft 50 rotates by 1/3.

Note that 69 shown in FIG. 8 is a bushing that rotatably supports the driving shaft 50 on the frame 45.

The plunger 68a of the solenoid 68 is pulled three times in succession, causing the drive shaft 49 to interlock with the driving shaft 50.
When the take-out rollers 48 attached to the paper cassette 28 rotate once, the uppermost sheet P in the cassette 28 is taken out and sent into the paper conveyance path 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, transport rollers 70 and 71 are provided between the paper transport path 32 from the take-out device 29 to the transfer unit 30, and the paper P taken out by the take-out rollers 48 is transported. A first guide plate 72 that guides between the pair of rollers 70 and 71, and second and third guide plates that guide the paper P conveyed by the pair of conveyance rollers 70 and 71 to the transfer unit 30 on mutually opposing surfaces. 73 and 74 are arranged. The conveying roller 70 facing the arcuate guide of the first guide plate 72 is made of a rubber roller with a large coefficient of friction, and the conveying roller 71 facing the tip surface of the first guide plate 72 is made of a metal roller with a small coefficient of friction. ing. Thus, the paper P taken out from the cassette 28 by the take-out rollers 48 is moved along the first guide plate 72 to the pair of transport rollers 7.
You will be guided between 0.71. If the theoretical conveyance distance of the paper P at this time is 100, one rotation of the take-out rollers 48 is set to be 110 in terms of the outer circumference, and the taken-out paper P passes between the first guide plate 72 and the conveyance roller 70. It is sufficiently pushed between the conveyance rollers 70 and 71 while bending between the conveyance rollers 70 and 71. At this time, the leading edge of the paper P advances along the guide surface of the first guide plate 72 and the metal conveyance roller 71 due to the rigidity of the paper itself, so that the paper P is skewed from the cassette 28. Even if it is taken out, the leading end is aligned with the contact line of the pair of transport rollers 70 and 71.

Further, when the paper P is taken out, a paper detection switch 75 is operated at the leading edge of the paper P, and a start signal for the document table 3 is generated. Next, the pair of transport rollers 70 and 71 start rotating in synchronization with the operations of the document table 3 and the photoreceptor 14, and the paper P is guided by the second and third guide plates 73 and 74 to the transfer unit 30.
transported in the direction of At this time, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 11, the take-out rollers 48...
rotates by 1/3 in conjunction with the pair of conveyor rollers 70 and 71. The take-out rollers 48 will rotate 1 1/3 times until one sheet P comes out of the cassette 28. At this time, the outer circumferential length of the take-out roller 48 is set to be slightly shorter than the shortest of the sizes of the various sheets P set in the cassette 28, so that the second sheet P is taken out. It is becoming more and more difficult to do so. Further, the take-out rollers 48 are configured to freely rotate idly as the paper P is conveyed except when being driven.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a high voltage transformer 76 which is a high voltage source for the charging device 21 is shared with the transfer device 23. Therefore, it is cheaper than a system in which a dedicated one is provided individually, but the timing of the output generation of the high voltage transformer 76 needs to cover all of the two uses, so the photoreceptor 14 is charged. They also have the problem of being charged even when they are not feeling well, and that it is difficult to turn on and off high voltage. As a solution to this problem, the charge erasing lamp 27 is provided. The charge erasing lamp 27 lights up at the same time as the photoreceptor 14 starts to rotate, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 13, and corresponds to the distance L ₁ to the position S on the surface of the photoreceptor 14.
It is held for 1.85 seconds by a variable timer 77 whose resistance value is varied, for example by a combination of a resistor and a capacitor. When the point S of the photoconductor 14 rotates and just reaches the point E, the image of the document 2 set on the document table 3 is irradiated, and the photoconductor 14
There is no charge before the upper image, and no solid black latent image is formed even without exposure. Also,
The light at the rear end of the image is turned off 0.1 seconds after the original platen 3 returns to its original position, so that there is no possibility that the leading edge of the image will be erased during the next copy. Further, the charge erasing lamp 27 is configured to have a variable irradiation range, and after erasing, the exposure point E
It is now possible to adjust the dispersion in the distance _L2 . That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the charge erasing lamp 27 includes a lamp body 78, a case 79 that accommodates this lamp body 78, and this case 7.
A front shutter 82 and a rear shutter 83 are made of L-shaped spring plates screwed to form a slit 81 facing a colored glass 80 serving as a light-transmitting part of the window 9. The slit 81 is elastically deformed against the force of the slit 81 and has adjustment screws 84, 84 for changing the position of the tip forming the slit 81. Therefore, for example, by tightening the adjustment screw 84 and setting the tip position of the front shutter 82 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the distance to the exposure point E can be adjusted from L ₂ ′ to L ₂ ″ after erasing. become.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
5. Paper detection switch 75, 8 for detecting paper P
6, 87, and detectors for detecting the position of the document table 3, such as document table switches 88, 89, and 90. The document table switch 89 is, for example, a switch that is turned on only when the document table 3 is at the start position.

Furthermore, there is a control section 91 within the main body 1, and a first
As shown in Figure 6, the microprocessor unit 9
2, a pulse oscillator 93, a power supply device 94, and the variable timer 77. The microprocessor unit 97 includes the aforementioned switches 88,
Signals from 89, 90, 75, 85, 86, 87 are input, and each indicator light 9, 10, 11, 12, 1
3, a motor 54 which controls the blinking of 3 and is the main driving source, a solenoid 68 for on/off control of the 1/3 rotation clutch 56, and a pair of transport rollers 70, 7.
1, a document table reciprocating clutch 96 for driving the document table 3, and a document table returning clutch 97. moreover,
Fixing lamp 98 of fixing unit 33 and optical device 20
Controls the blinking of the exposure lamp 16.

Further, the variable timer 77 creates the timing for the flashing of the charge erasing lamp 27, and the holding relay 99 of the "no copy paper" indicator light 11 maintains this state when "no copy paper" is detected, and the cassette switch 85 is turned off. and reset this hold.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG. 17, the process from turning on the power to turning on the "Copy Allowed" indicator light 9 will be explained. First, when the power switch 5 is turned on, the motor 54 and the conveyance clutch 95 are operated and run idly for 11 seconds to ensure that no paper P remains in the paper conveyance path 32. 11 seconds is a sufficient time for ejecting the paper P even if the paper P is bundled at the entrance side, considering the length of the paper transport path 32 and the transport speed. Paper detection switch 7
5, 86, and 87 are checked, and if these are turned on, there is a possibility that there is a sheet P that should not be present, so an error state is assumed and the flow proceeds to step. The charge erasing lamp 27 and the removal lamp 25a of the charge removing device 25 are turned on for 11 seconds to remove all latent images and charges on the photoreceptor 14. After waiting for the fixing device 33 to reach a predetermined high temperature, the "Copy Allowed" indicator light 9 is turned on.

Further, the copying process will be explained based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 18, 19, and 20. When the copy button 6 is pressed, the "copy allowed" indicator light 9 goes out. Next, rotate the motor 54 to 500
After waiting for milliseconds, solenoid 68 is connected.
Since the rotation of the motor 54 becomes stable within 500 milliseconds, the paper P can be taken out stably when the solenoid 68 is connected. Simultaneously with the operation of the solenoid 68, a timer (not shown) is set to "4.2 seconds".
Turn off solenoid 68 after 1.05 seconds. Although the solenoid 68 is energized three times in FIG. 11, it may be configured as shown in FIG.
The operation of the clutch 95 is the same even if the current is left on for 1.05 seconds as in this flow. During this time, the leading edge of the paper P reaches the pair of transport rollers 70 and 71.

If the paper detection switch 75 does not turn on even after 2 seconds have passed after setting the above-mentioned timer [4.2 seconds],
That is, when the paper P has not been taken out, the solenoid 68 is connected again. The connection time is 1.05 seconds, and 2 seconds have already passed, so click "Disconnect".
is performed at a timing of 3.05 seconds. 4.2 until retry
If the paper P does not come out even after seconds have elapsed, it is determined that there is no copy paper. Whether or not to retry can be determined by reading the number of tries while adding it to the memory, but in this embodiment, the total time required is checked by taking advantage of the fact that the time required for one try is fixed. . The paper P for which the paper detection switch 75 is pressed before the timer reaches 2 seconds is determined to have been correctly taken out, and the document table clutch 96 is connected to start the operation of the document table 3.

The charge erasing lamp 27 is turned off 200 milliseconds after the original platen forward clutch 96 is connected. Next, a 6.75 second timer is set, and at the same time as the transfer clutch 95 is connected, a 4.6 second timer is also set. After 100 milliseconds have passed after the conveyor clutch 95 is connected, the solenoid 68 is turned on and the take-out rollers 48 are rotated for 300 milliseconds, so that the paper P is transferred to the conveyor roller pair 70, 71.
The paper P is pushed back so that it is firmly bitten into the paper P. The reason why the take-out roller 48 starts rotating 100 milliseconds later is as follows.
This is to prevent the paper P from being bent more than necessary, since it has already been bent at the first guide plate 72. When the paper detection switch 75 is on for 4.6 seconds or more, the process is entered into an abnormality flow.

The original platen switch 90 detects that the original platen 3 has reached the right end, and when the switch 90 is turned on, the original platen forward clutch 96 is disengaged, the original platen return clutch 97 is engaged, and the original platen 3 begins to be returned. When the paper detection switch 75 is turned off, that is, when the trailing edge of the sheet P that has been taken out has passed, the document table 3 shifts from the "forward operation" to the "return operation." When the document table 3 moves to the return operation, a timer of 7.4 seconds is set. When the original platen switch 89 is turned on, the original platen clutch 97 is disengaged to stop the returning movement of the original platen 3. At the same time, the "Copy Allowed" indicator light 9 is turned on to indicate that the next copy is possible.

If the paper detection switch 86 is turned on when the leading edge jam timer elapses for 6.75 seconds, the paper P has reached the paper discharge port 31, and it can be determined that the paper P has been conveyed without jamming on the way. At 6.75 seconds, paper P is detected by paper detection switch 8.
If the number has not reached 6, it is assumed that there is a paper jam and the error flow is entered.

When the paper detection switch 86 is turned on when the trailing edge jam timer has elapsed for 7.4 seconds, it is assumed that the trailing edge of the paper P still remains, so a paper jam flow is entered.

Also, Figure 21 shows the error subroutine, and the second
In the part where an error is displayed in FIG. 2, the process shown in FIG. 21 is executed, and the "paper jam" indicator light 10 is turned on. Error processing (Figure 21) is when an error (abnormal state) occurs, the motor 54
Turn off each part for 11 seconds while rotating the motor 54, and when an error occurs, the motor 54 immediately stops.
Charge removal lamp 25a turns off, charge removal lamp 27
The light goes out, and the "paper jam" indicator light 10 lights up.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23, if there is no paper P, the "no copy paper" indicator light 11 is turned on,
Hold the re-insertion handle for cassette 28. Reinsertion is determined by detecting that the cassette switch 85 is once turned off and then turned on. Cassette 28
By re-inserting, the "No copy paper" indicator light 11 is turned off and the "Copy available" indicator light 9 is turned on.

In this way, the "Copy Ready" indicator light 9 is turned off from when the power is turned on until it becomes ready for copying, turns on when it becomes ready for copying, turns off when the copy button 6 is pressed at this time, and then turns off when the copying button 6 is pressed. Since the switch 89 is turned on and lights up to indicate that copying is possible, the operator can clearly know whether copying is possible by turning on or off the "copying ready" indicator light 9, and whether or not copy paper has been ejected. This allows the user to know when to replace the original or make the next copy without worrying about the original, and the time required for copying can be substantially reduced.

Note that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
The "copy ready" indicator light 9 lights up from when the power is turned on until it becomes ready for copying, turns off when it becomes ready for copying, turns on when the copy button 6 is pressed at this time, and then turns on the document table switch 89. Even if the light is turned off when the copying state is reached, it can be implemented in the same way as in the embodiment described above. In addition, the "Copy Ready" indicator light 9 blinks from when the power is turned on until it becomes ready for copying, and when it becomes ready for copying, it lights up continuously or turns off. If the copy button 6 is pressed at this time, it blinks continuously again, and then The original table switch 89 may be turned on and the light may be turned on continuously or turned off when it becomes ready for copying, in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. Also,
“Copy allowed” instead of flashing “Copy allowed” indicator light
It is also possible to provide two displays, "Please wait" and "Please wait", and switch between them. Furthermore, although the description has been made regarding a copying machine that uses an original table moving method, the present invention can be implemented in the same way with a copying machine that uses an optical system moving method.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the operator can clearly know whether copying is possible based on the display state of the display, and can take the original without worrying about whether copy paper has been ejected or not. It is possible to provide a copying machine that can know when to change the data and can substantially shorten the time required for copying.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an external perspective view, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line shown in FIG. Figure 4 is a side view showing a state in which the cassette has been inserted, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cassette is being inserted, and Figures 6a, b, and c are schematic side views for explaining the state in which the cassette is inserted. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the extraction device, and Figure 8 is 1/3 of the main part of the device.
9 is a side sectional view showing the engagement and disengagement state of the sleeve and crank lever, FIG. 10 is a side view of the pair of conveyor rollers, and FIG. 11 is a timing chart. , Fig. 12 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship of the charge erasing lamp, Fig. 13 is a timing chart, Fig. 14 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the charge erasing lamp, and Fig. 15 is the arrangement of main detection elements. a schematic side sectional view showing;
Figure 16 is a block diagram of the control section, Figures 17 to 2
Figure 3 is a flowchart. 9...Display device ("copy allowed" indicator light), 89...Original platen switch, 91...Control unit, 92...Microprocessor unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A copying machine that performs copying by reciprocating a document table or an optical system, comprising: an indicator for displaying whether copying is possible; a detector that detects that a copy is possible; when a predetermined copying enable condition is met, the display indicates that copying is possible; after copying has started, the display indicates that copying is possible; and before the previous copy paper is ejected; A copying machine comprising: a control section that displays a copy-ready indication on the display again when the detector detects that the document table or the optical system is at the operation start position after the backward movement of the document table or the optical system.